3.0L Front Cover Modification When Used with 3.2L Oil Pump

The timing covers are a little different between the 3.0L and 3.2L engines. The 3.0L oil pump has an aluminum extension that serves as part of the timing cover. The 3.2L oil pump lacks this extension because the hydraulic belt tensioner serves as part of the timing cover seal. During the conversion, I retained the 3.2L oil pump and left the seals in place, which resulted in a gap not covered by the plastic cover. In about 20 minutes I came up with the aluminum cover below to close the gap.

The image below shows how the short oil pump extension and tensioner come together to form the timing cover.


The finished piece. The copper pipe provides support for the bolt that runs through the plastic cover, through this copper tube and into the block. The timing cover bolt can be properly torqued without breaking the cover.


The "inside" of the finished piece, which is the side that the timing belt will see. I was concerned that the piece might come close to the belt and cut it, so the Y in the aluminum prevents them from touching as the Y straddles the oil pump extrusion.


The finished piece fitted to the engine. This is essentially invisible with the engine in the car. The outer aluminum sheet is slightly tensioned against the end of the oil pump extension. The inner aluminum sheet follows the curve in the plastic timing cover.


   Last update: Dec 7th, 2019